Building genuine relationships has been key for Kyle Hjelmeseth (LA’04) throughout his life. As a public relations student at Purdue, he recognized the importance of making connections and creating a memorable persona. He knew his ability to network and form bonds with others would prove valuable in any field. “I had a vision for myself […]
Emily Smith (HHS’10) enrolled at Purdue planning to become a kindergarten teacher. But in a big world, she found an even grander calling. Smith serves as chief of staff for Family Planning 2020 (FP2020), a global partnership hosted by the United Nations Foundation that supports the rights of women and girls to decide — freely […]
Strategic planning may not often be described as thrilling, but for Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko (LA’94), it’s one of the best parts of her job as the president and chief executive officer of the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, Maine. “I love imagining a future with a group of people and looking at the reality of what’s […]
If you’re going to work a retirement job, running a bed and breakfast in the US Virgin Islands might be tough to beat. From the white sand and turquoise waters to the interesting conversations with guests from all over the world, it’s worked out pretty well for Nancy Louis (LA’76). “I wanted a beach house,” […]
Jill (Steiner) Zeller (A’09) knows that running a profitable farming operation is a lot of hard work. Both she and her husband, Casey (A’10), come from farming families and still occasionally lend a helping hand during planting and harvest seasons. Agriculture is a part of her DNA, and she empathizes with the plight of the […]
A week after Abigail Ekeigwe’s (MS T’16) friend Nkechi gave birth by caesarean section last November, she was not healing, and she was experiencing severe pain and high fevers. “It was clear that she had a serious infection, although she had been on antibiotics. The doctor extended use for another two days, yet she had no […]
Everything is better told as if you’re writing a story — even office memos,” laughs Kevin Martin (M’84), recalling a Harvard Business Review article he read early in his career. “Effective communication skills are really vital to building and growing relationships and taking intelligent risks.” The importance of storytelling, critical thinking, and innovation was instilled […]
Running a microbrewery in Milwaukee, a city purportedly made famous by beers produced at larger breweries, might sound daunting. Jeff Hamilton (T’79), president of Sprecher Brewing Company, however, believes the niche market of catering to diverse tastes is vital to the company’s success. “People are a lot more concerned about what they put in their […]
When Elizabeth Carter (HHS’12) landed her job at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health in Indianapolis, she didn’t just fulfill her dream, she actually was returning to where her life began. As a quadruplet born at 30 weeks, she started life in the Riley Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU); and now, all grown up, […]
Timing can be everything. Especially in the high-speed world of technological startups. Working at Google before it got gigantic, then in on the ground floor at Yelp, Michael Stoppelman (S’03) has been in the right place at some very opportune times. From a childhood in Great Falls, Virginia, to a Midwestern stop at Purdue, the […]
